Will enroll this fall as part of Arizona State's inaugural Evans Scholars class

GLENVIEW, Ill. – A student caddie from Cypress Point Club in Pebble Beach, Calif., has been awarded the Evans Scholarship, a full housing and tuition college grant offered to golf caddies, following a selection meeting interview held in February.

Max Perez of Salinas, Calif., will begin college at Arizona State University this fall, part of the inaugural class of Evans Scholars to attend the Program’s newest partner university in Tempe, Ariz.  The Evans Scholarship is valued at more than $125,000 over four years.

To qualify for the Evans Scholarship, students must meet the Program’s four selection criteria and show a strong caddie record, excellent academics, demonstrated financial need and outstanding character.

The Western Golf Association (WGA), headquartered in Glenview Illinois, has supported the Chick Evans Scholarship Program through the Evans Scholars Foundation (ESF) since 1930. Known as one of golf’s favorite charities, it is the nation’s largest scholarship program for caddies.

“Max’s journey reflects the determination and vision we hope to see in every Evans Scholar,” said Linda Walker, a WGA Director and the state chair of Washington. “Through his work at Cypress Point Club, he has developed maturity and leadership that will serve him well in college and beyond.”

Cypress Point Club, founded in 1928, is widely regarded as one of the world’s most iconic golf courses, with a legendary caddie program. Perez, a senior at Salinas High School, is the first youth caddie from Cypress Point to be awarded the Evans Scholarship in more than three decades. He has caddied at the club for two years, after first discovering the opportunity from being part of the First Tee – Monterey County program. He plans to pursue a business degree with the goal of building a career in golf and entrepreneurship.

“Caddying has given me confidence in my abilities and shown me the value of preparation and trust,” Perez said. “It strengthened my work ethic and inspired me to pursue my goals in golf and business.”

Currently, a record 1,260 caddies are enrolled at 27 universities across the country as Evans Scholars. More than 12,575 caddies have graduated as Evans Scholars since the Program was founded by famed Chicago amateur golfer Charles “Chick” Evans Jr. in 1930.

Selection meeting interviews were held from November through March, with an estimated 380 caddies from across the country – a record – awarded an Evans Scholarship.

Evans Scholars have a cumulative GPA of 3.3 and a 98 percent graduation rate. An estimated 40 percent are first-generation college students, and 96 percent are employed or enrolled in graduate school within six months of graduating.

Funds for the Evans Scholarship come mostly from contributions by more than 43,500 supporters across the country, who are members of the Evans Scholars Par Club program. Evans Scholars Alumni donate more than $15 million annually, and all proceeds from the BMW Championship, the penultimate PGA TOUR Playoff event in the PGA TOUR’s FedExCup competition, benefit the Evans Scholars Foundation. In 2026, the BMW Championship will be held at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis, Missouri, from Aug. 18-23.